I have friends and family who always put on music when they leave the family dog at home for a few hours. I always thought this was silly, but curiosity got the better of me. I decided to look into the matter and find out what the experts say. What I learned was both surprising and very cool.
Studies show that animals do like music. In fact, when animals pay any attention to cross-species songs, they exhibit thoughts and behavior that are frighteningly analogous to humans. It has even been known to cause behavior change across species.
For example, scientists determined that classical music alleviated dogs’ anxiousness, allowing them to sleep longer and bark more infrequently. On either hand, rock music increased dog barking, decreased relaxation, and caused severe shaking, all of which are characteristics of a genuine punk rocker.
Does Music Affect Animal Behavior?
In a 2012 prospective study of 177 animals, the researchers exposed the animals to various kinds of music, including symphonic, rock music, and a modified form of orchestral songs. They likewise studied the animals’ attitudes in the absence of melody. They discovered that such animals napped more than normal when exposed to various types of classical music, suggesting that this assisted in their relaxation.
These animals responded the exact opposite to rock music, which exacerbated their body shaking, a symptom of anxiety.
The scientists also discovered that animals and humans share a love of melody. These findings corroborate human research indicating that music may help decrease tension, stimulate relaxation, enhance temperament, and alleviate anxiety and stress. Moreover, they confirmed that rock music might induce anxiety in certain listeners.
Humans have been shown to benefit physiologically and psychologically from listening to music. The effects of music on physiology, intelligence, neurochemistry, and anatomy have been investigated in experimental models, indicating that music could have a comparable impact on animals as it has on people.
According to available data on the possible advantages of songs for animals, delivering music might well be utilized to improve the well-being of experimental animals in a variety of ways, including stress reduction and attitude alteration.
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What Music Do Animals Like Best?
Despite the belief that rhythm and music are an intrinsic human experiences, current and continuing findings indicate that animals reflect our abilities.
Instead of preferring classical or rock music, Snowdon, an animal scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that animals marched to the rhythm of an entirely another beat. They appreciate what he refers to as “animals-specific music,” songs composed specifically for their kind frequencies, harmonics, and time signatures.
Without intending to be ironic, music is mostly about the spectrum: Humans prefer music in line with our acoustical and auditory ranges that employ harmonics we recognize and that develop at a pace comparable to our cardiac cycle. Thus, a song tuned excessively high or very low sounds harsh or unintelligible, while music played too quickly or slowly becomes incomprehensible as music.
This means that to the majority of animals, humankind’s sound is incomprehensible and unidentifiable. With voice frequencies and pulse rates different from ours, animals are not built to enjoy tunes suited explicitly to our sensibilities.
Moreover, most research indicates that, despite our best efforts to achieve their legs pounding, animals usually react indifferently to ambient soundscapes. That is why Snowdon collaborated with musician and songwriter David Teie to create music just for them.
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What Kind of Music Do Cats Like?
Recently, scientists found that cats are more relaxed when exposed to classical music than pop or complex music. However, a new study released in this decade’s edition of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery indicates that cats may soothe so much when having such music composed just for them.
Scooter Bere’s Aria was chosen as the cat material for the research since it was written, operated, and published by David Teie and distributed by Universal Records UK. The unique song was created utilizing cat speech patterns and vibrations of two syllables greater than the conscious speaking voice.
Three veterinarian general exams two weeks off from each other introduced their cats to a few of several auditory assessments (silent, contemporary music, or cat-specific music). CSS has been collected before, throughout, and following the evaluation period. At the time of the physical examination, the HSs have been noted. NLRs were used to evaluate stress response.
CSS and HSs were vastly more minor in cats responding to cat melodies than quiet or orchestral music. The NLRs exhibited no discernible alterations. Results infer that cat-specific songs can help cats within veterinarian healthcare situations by helping to improve, protect and promote,” the scientists indicated in the paper.
(To read more about what this all means, go here)
Do Pigs Like Music?
Those who operate pig-friendly animal resorts remark that they are more human-like than you would think. They love music, sports, and massage. Particular pigs are just as fixated on music. Music is as reviving for pigs as it would be for people. Thus, it would not be incorrect to assert that they value the artist’s songs.
As revealed in the research study called Peta, it was hinted therein that pigs like listening to a wide variety of music. They like quiet melodies after meals, American rap while they’re messing about, and loud music when they’re procreating.
Interestingly, pigs are often afraid of more aggressive forms of jazz music and, not surprisingly, any loud music; Similar to other species, they appreciate classical musical instruments, which captivated them for hours. Tranquility is aided by gentle jazz and classical music. Also, listening to soothing quiet music aids indigestion in pigs.
Just keep in mind that while pigs appreciate music, it is not quite the same as humans do. Pigs can listen to and “enjoy” a wide variety of music. Of course, excessive exposure to music may also be detrimental, so if you have a pig, restrict your music-playing routine to a couple of hours.
Do Cows Like Music?
Cows, like dogs, love genuinely calm music and will make significantly more dairy while listening to moderate sounds and significantly decrease dairy when listening to accelerated music. However, whether milk production increases, animals are insatiably interested in classical music, no matter who composed it.
Final Thoughts
It does seem apparent that melody is more of a force of communication and caring besides being a human invention. Music is simply a connection amongst noises, one that can influence the feelings of people as well as animals in the same way that it may stimulate photosynthetic activity.
So, the next time you go run some errands, don’t forget to leave that stereo playing! Oh, and my dog told me to tell you to play some Mozart.
I hope this article has been helpful. Thanks for reading!
For more, check out Identifying Animal Eyes at Night | With Eye Shine Chart.
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Jim James is a published author and expert on the outdoors and survivalism. Through avid research and hands-on experience, he has gained expertise on a wide variety of topics. His time spent at college taught him to become really good at figuring out answers to common problems. Often through extensive trial and error, Jim has continued to learn and increase his knowledge of a vast array of topics related to firearms, hunting, fishing, medical topics, cooking, games/gaming, and other subjects too numerous to name.
Jim has been teaching people a wide variety of survivalism topics for over five years and has a lifetime of experience fishing, camping, general survivalism, and anything in nature. In fact, while growing up, he often spent more time on the water than on land! He has degrees in History, Anthropology, and Music from the University of Southern Mississippi. He extensively studied Southern History, nutrition, geopolitics, the Cold War, and nuclear policy strategies and safety as well as numerous other topics related to the content on survivalfreedom.com.